Whincup and Mostert head into the enduros with familiar co-drivers, joined again by experienced hands Paul Dumbrell and Steve Owen respectively.

Adding significant spice to the battle is that McLaughlin will pair with Van Gisbergen’s 2016 PIRTEK Enduro Cup winning co-driver Alex Premat, with the Red Bull man now joined by the highly rated, yet still inexperienced Matt Campbell.

Last year's winners will be rivals this season

Coulthard meanwhile links with Tony D’Alberto for the first time, with the former full-timer moving cars after partnering Scott Pye at Shell V-Power Racing last year.

“I don’t think you can forecast (how the championship will play out) because the pressure on the enduro drivers partnering these lead five guys, I don’t reckon it’s ever been as intense,” Skaife surmised on this week's Inside Supercars.

US-based Premat made a brief appearance with his new squad during an Ipswich ride day in February and will return in time for the team’s test day early next month.

Campbell, who is living in Germany while competing in the Porsche Supercup, flew out for a test at Ipswich with Red Bull in June and is scheduled to have another hit-out pre-Sandown.

D’Alberto and Owen were in their enduro mounts as recently as this week doing ride duties at Sydney Motorsport Park, while Dumbrell is keeping race-sharp this season by continuing in the Dunlop Super2 Series.

Skaife’s fellow Inside Supercars panellist Neil Crompton believes that the ultimate championship winner will be the driver and team that manages bad days the best.

Campbell jumps into the Red Bull hot seat after a single PIRTEK Enduro Cup with Nissan

All five championship contenders have had at least one disaster in recent events, which has keep the contest close.

The Wilson Security Sandown 500 and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 are particularly hazardous due to the amount of variables in the longer races and the fact they carry 300 points each.

“There are a range of guys that are winning and capable of executing race-winning performances,” said Crompton.

“That’s kind of the easy part. What will determine this championship is managing the bottom of the ‘U’, the downsides.

“It’s the tough days, the mistakes, the little boil-overs emotionally, the technical errors, any fumbles in the pitlane, etcetera.

“It’s managing the downside of it that will actually determine who prevails in the end. That’s where the pressure comes from.